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The nephew of Phil Collins has been linked to the case of two British women being held in Peru on suspicion of smuggling drugs. 

Michaella McCollum Connollyand Melissa Reid were arrested while trying to board a flight from the Peruvian capital to Spain with £1.5million worth of cocaine in their luggage last week. Now, it has been reported that the gang who were allegedly responsible is led by the nephew of former Genesis member and pop star Phil Collins. 

Peruvian newspaper El Comercio has linked the case of Connolly and Reid with that of Collins' nephew - Phillip Austin Collins, 37, who is currently being held in Piedras Gordas prison. Collins was arrested in March 2012 for allegedly attempting to smuggle £150,000 of cocaine into the UK. 

A translation from the Daily Mail claims that  police source told El Comercio: "Officers have confirmed the link between the arrested women and the mafia allegedly led by Philip Austin Collins, whose organisations tend to use drug mules from the UK.

They continued': "Although Collins is being held in jail awaiting trial, the drugs trafficking organisation he allegedly created in our capital is still active. The failed attempt to smuggle cocaine through these two women is said to be proof of this."

Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid are being held in Peru on suspicion of attempted drug-smuggling

 A spokesman for Phil Collins said: "This had nothing to do with my client so there is no comment to be made."

Connoly, 20, of Dungannon, County Tyrone and Reid, 19, from Lenzie near Glasgow, deny all charges and knowledge of drug trafficking, and claim that they were tricked by a gang.